Independent Environmental Audit Rev 1 – Mt Arthur Coal Mine – November 2012 Date Revision Comment 20 March 2012 0 Independent Environmental Audit Report submitted to DP&I November 2012 1 Audit report incorporating feedback from the Department of Planning & Infrastructure trevor brown & associates - applied environmental management consultants 3 Forwood Crescent Bundanoon NSW 2578 tel: 02 4883 7877 mob: 0409 053 031 Page 1 Independent Environmental Audit Rev 1 – Mt Arthur Coal Mine – November 2012 DISTRIBUTION Copies Recipient Copies Recipient 6 Mt Arthur Coal Pty Ltd This document was prepared for the sole use of BHP Billiton Ltd and Mt Arthur Coal Pty Ltd and the regulatory agencies that are directly involved in this project, as the only intended beneficiaries of our work. No other party should rely on the information contained herein without the prior written consent of trevor brown & associates. by Tebcon Pty Limited Trading as: trevor brown & associates ABN: 23 084 906 963 3 Forwood Crescent Bundanoon NSW 2578 Australia Trevor Brown Principal Environmental Consultant/Auditor November 2012 trevor brown & associates - applied environmental management consultants 3 Forwood Crescent Bundanoon NSW 2578 tel: 02 4883 7877 mob: 0409 053 031 Page 2 Independent Environmental Audit Rev 1 – Mt Arthur Coal Mine – November 2012 Table of Contents Glossary .................................................................................................................................................. 6 Executive Summary ................................................................................................................................ 7 1.0 Introduction................................................................................................................................. 9 1.1 Background ............................................................................................................................. 9 1.2 Scope of Work ......................................................................................................................... 9 1.3 Structure of Report ................................................................................................................ 10 1.4 Compliance Tables .............................................................................................................. 10 2. Mt Arthur Coal Mine - Background ................................................................................................ 12 3. Project Approvals .......................................................................................................................... 14 3.1 Project Approval .................................................................................................................... 14 3.2 Environment Protection Licence ........................................................................................... 14 3.3 Mining Leases ....................................................................................................................... 15 4. Mt Arthur Coal Status – December 2011 ...................................................................................... 16 5. Review of Environmental Management ........................................................................................ 17 5.1 Environmental Management System .................................................................................... 17 5.1.1 Environmental Management System ................................................................................ 17 5.2 Environmental Management Strategy ................................................................................... 17 5.2.1 Environmental Management Strategy ............................................................................... 17 5.2.2 Conclusion ......................................................................................................................... 17 5.3 Environmental Monitoring Programs ..................................................................................... 17 5.3.1 Monitoring Programs ......................................................................................................... 17 5.3.2 Conclusion ......................................................................................................................... 18 5.4 Air Quality ............................................................................................................................. 18 5.4.1 Air Quality Management Plan ........................................................................................... 18 5.4.2 Air Quality Monitoring Program ......................................................................................... 19 5.4.3 Greenhouse Gas and Energy Efficiency Management Plan ............................................ 19 5.4.4 Air Quality Monitoring Results .......................................................................................... 20 5.4.5 Summary and Conclusion ............................................................................................. 22 5.5 Blasting ................................................................................................................................. 23 5.5.1 Blast Management Plan ................................................................................................... 23 5.5.2 Blast Monitoring Program ................................................................................................. 24 5.5.3 Blast Monitoring Results .................................................................................................. 24 5.5.4 Summary / Conclusion ...................................................................................................... 25 5.6 Erosion and Sediment Control ............................................................................................. 25 trevor brown & associates - applied environmental management consultants 3 Forwood Crescent Bundanoon NSW 2578 tel: 02 4883 7877 mob: 0409 053 031 Page 3 Independent Environmental Audit Rev 1 – Mt Arthur Coal Mine – November 2012 5.6.1 Erosion and Sediment Control Plan ................................................................................. 25 5.6.2 Summary/Conclusion ........................................................................................................ 28 5.7 Noise .................................................................................................................................... 28 5.7.1 Noise Management Plan .................................................................................................. 28 5.7.2 Noise Monitoring Program ............................................................................................... 28 5.7.3 Noise Monitoring Results ................................................................................................. 28 5.7.4 Summary / Conclusion ..................................................................................................... 30 5.8 Water Management .............................................................................................................. 30 5.8.1 Site Water Management Plan ........................................................................................... 30 5.8.2 Site Water Balance .......................................................................................................... 31 5.8.3 Surface Water Monitoring Program.................................................................................. 32 5.8.6 Surface Water Monitoring Results ................................................................................... 33 5.8.8 Groundwater Monitoring Program .................................................................................... 34 5.8.7 Surface and Groundwater Response Plan ...................................................................... 36 5.8.8 Summary / Conclusion ..................................................................................................... 36 5.9 Rehabilitation........................................................................................................................ 37 5.9.1 Rehabilitation Strategy ..................................................................................................... 37 5.9.2 Mt Arthur Coal Consolidation Project Land Management and Rehabilitation Progress ... 38 5.9.3 Audit Site Inspection Observations .................................................................................. 38 5.9.4 Suggestions for Rehabilitation Activities .......................................................................... 41 5.9.5 Summary / Conclusion ..................................................................................................... 43 5.10 Heritage Management ........................................................................................................... 43 5.10.1 Aboriginal Heritage ........................................................................................................ 43 5.10.3 European Heritage Management ................................................................................. 45 6. Conclusions and Recommendations ............................................................................................. 47 6.1 Conclusion ............................................................................................................................. 47 6.2 Summary of Recommendations ...........................................................................................